Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Engine # 312 of the CPR

George Abdill; A Locomotive Engineers Album, Bonanza Books, 1965
Baldwin built #312 and three similar locomotives for the CPR in 1884 for helper duties on the "Big Hill" between Laggan and Field, BC. At the time these four were among the most powerful locomotives built. Although involved in a fatal runaway on the hill in 1889, she was repaired and remained in service for six more years till she blew up while working on the hill in 1895, killing the engineer and fireman. The completion of the Spiral Tunnels in 1909 reduced the grades of the "Big Hill" from 4.5 % down to a manageable 2.2. 

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